Assembly for clutches, brakes, and the like



T. L. FAWICK 2,340,315 I ASSEMBLY FOR GLU'ICHES, BRAKES, AND THE LIKE I Feb. 1, 1944.

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 18, 1940 S INMENTOR 7M0; 1; Eva/Zak ,0. ATTORNEY Feb. 1, 1944. T. 1 FAWICK 2,340,315

ASSEMBLY FOR CLUTGHES, B RAKES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 1940 s- Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR 7/20/2741 1. fill/ck ATTORNEY T. L. FAWICK 2,340,315

Filed Sept. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 1, 1944.

ASSEMBLY FOR CLUTCHES, BRAKES, AND THE LIKE right of Fig. 3. V

Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASSEMBLY FOR CLUTCHES, BRAKES, AND THELIKE Thomas L. Fawick, Akron, Ohio Application September 18, 1940, Serial No. 357,241

13 Claims.

This inventionjrelates to power-transmitting clutches and the like.

Its chief objects are to provide a clutch of simple and inexpensive construction; to provide a clutch having those advantages and adapted to cushion the torque and to provide compensation for shaft nus-alignment; and to provide simplicity and ease of operation, durability, and facility and economy in matters of assembly, disassembly and repair. v

More specific objects will be manifest in the following description.

f the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a horizontal middle section of a clutc embodying my invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a section of the same on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical middle section of a modification. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same, from the Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 oi Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section, on line 6- 6 of Fig. 7, illustrating an alternative type of frictional-engagement member.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of frictional-engagement members of another alternative type.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of my invention which is shown in Figs. '1 and 2 comprises a shaft I0 having mounted thereon a bell-shaped female clutch member I l, which may be a fly-wheel, having-a cylindrical inner frictional-engagement surface |2 adapted to be enaged by a circumferential series of wear shoes I3, |3 mounted upon a maleclutch structure which comprises two identical, generally conical torque-transmitting and cushioning members l4, l4 which are composed of rubber or rubberlike material and are mounted with their outer, large-diameter margins in contact with each other and with their irmer, small-diameter margins spaced apart axially of the assembly.

The outer, large-diameter margins of the conical rubber members It areadapted to be forced radially outward, to bring the wear shoes l3 into engagement with the face |2 of the bell-shaped member H, by movement of their inner, smalldiameter margins toward each other.

In this embodiment the wear shoes |3 are mounted upon the torque-transmitting and cushioning members M by being riveted to respective sheetemetal saddles l5, I5 having shallow outwardly bent end flanges l6, l6 for assisting the riv ts, l1, H, in preventing slipping of the shoe on the saddle. Each of the saddles has a pair 01' inwardly bent side flanges, l8, l8,- which straddle the outer margins of the pair of memhers I and long rivets or pins l9, l9 extend through holes in the said margins and holes in the said side flangesfor anchoring the saddles to the members l4.

Between the wear-shoe assemblies the members I4 are formed with radial, transverse notches extending inward from their outer peripheries so that radially outward movement of the wear shoes will not be excessively resisted by circumferential tension of the rubber.

The inner, short-diameter margins of the members M are secured, preferably by vulcanized adhesion, to oppositely-flared conical outer annular portions 20, 20 of respective metal stampings 2|, 2 I which at their inner, short-diameter margins are formed with respective cylindrical flanges 22, 22"- which extend toward each other. Mounted .With its ends in-the angles formed by the bodies and the flanges 22 of the members 2|, 2| is a helical compression spring 23 which constantly urges the members 2|, 2 l in directions away from each other, for assuring clutch-disengagement upon release of the clutch-engaging force.

sleeve 24.

A pilot bearing 21 is interposed between.theadjacent end portion of the shaft 25 and the hub of th bell-shaped member H and radial-andthrust bearings 28, 28 are provided between the shaft 25 and a stationarymember 29, which may be a part of a motor or transmission housing.

The sleeve 26 is journaled, by means of a radialand-thrust bearing 30, in a floating actuatingyoke member 3|, and the sleeve 24 projects from the sleeve 26 and isjournaled, by means of a radial-and-thrust bearing 32, in a floating clutch actuating cylinder block 33 which is retainedupon the end of the sleeve 24 by a snap-ring 34, the

'radial-and-thrust bearing 30 being adapted to force the member 2| toward the member 2 I while permitting it, with the member 2 I, to rotate, and the radial-'and-thrust bearing 32 being adapted to force the member 2| toward the member 2| while permitting it, with the member 2|, to rotate.

For forcing the yoke member 3| and the cylinder-block member 33 away from each other, and thus forcing the members 2| and 2 l toward each other, for clutch engagement? pistons 35, 35 are mounted in cylinder liners 36, 36 in the block 33 and shouldered stems 35, 35 of the pistons are mounted with a slip fit in holes formed in the yoke member 3|, being thus adapted for easy assembly and disassembly. Bellows-like members communicates with a groove 62 formed in the wall of the respective cyiinder boring anda short bore 43 in the inner face of the cylinder head, in continuation of the groove, is adapted to conduct the'fluid around the end edge of the cylinder liner 32 and thus into the piston chamben defined by the liner and the cylinder head.

In the engaging of the clutch, pressure fluid being supplied to the cylinders, the cylinder block 33 and the yoke member 3| areforced apart axially of the assembly and this, through the radial-and-thrust bearings 32 and 30 and the slip-splined sleeves 24 and 26, forces the members 2|. and 2| axially toward each other, the conical rubber members I4 thus beingflattened by the movement of their inner, small-diameter margins toward each other, which causes a circumferential lengthening of their radially-,

middle, annular zones, and this, together with the toggle-like or moving-strut action of obliquely radial zones of the rubber; forces the wear shoes into contact with the inner face I2 of the bellshaped member II, for clutch engagement. The

inner marginal flanges 22 of the members 2i, 2 i are adapted to contact-each other and thus serve as stops in this movement, and the parts are preferably so proportioned that this occurs before the inner marginal zones of the flattening cones have gone past-center, but my invention is not thus limited. In the declutching movement, under the force of the spring 23, assisted by the resilience of the rubber members, inner margins 3|, 33 of the yoke 3| and the' cylinder block 33 respectively, contact each other to provide a stop.

Because of the conical form of the outer marginal portions 20, of the members 2|, 2| the clutching-engaging force which is a resultant of their axial movement is a force substantially normal to their faces to which the rubber members are adhered, so that excessive strain upon the adhesive bond is not involved.

An important advantage of this embodimentof my invention is that the clutch-engaging, cone-flattening, forces are balanced, so that clutch engagement does not result in any thrust load upon either of the shafts, but only balanced thrust loads upon the bearings 30, 32 of the two floating members.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,

a single generally conical torque-transmitting and cushioning member, 44, of rubber or the like, is employed and it is provided with a metal wear ring 45, preferably secured to it by vulcanized adhesion, adapted to abut a radialface of the fiy-wheel, H to limit movement of the outer periphery of the member 44 and thus cause the latter to be expanded in its radially outer portion, for clutch engagement, when its radially inner portion is moved toward the fly-wheel.

For providing such movement of its radially inner portion a hub member 46, on which the member 44 is secured by vulcanized adhesion, is

through a radial-and-thrustbearing 48, is adapted-to be forced toward the fly-wheel by cam rollers 49, 49 which are journaled on radial axes on a sleeve 50 and coact with cam faces such'as the face 5| formed on a sleeve 52, the sleeve 52 being secured by bolts such as the bolt 53 to a stationary part of the assembly, and

the sleeve 50 being slidably mounted on the sleeve 52, and provided with an actuating hand lever 54.

Compression springs such as the spring 46- are interposed between the hub member 46 and a spring-seat Washer 46 mounted upon the end of the shaft 31, for assuring clutch disengagement in case the hub member 36 is forced pastcenter in the clutch-engaging movement.

. In this embodiment of Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the wear shoes or friction blocks, 55, 55, are riveted to respective brass plates 56, 56 which, are secured to the cushion member 44 by vulcanized adhesion. Preferablythe brass plates are formed with outwardly extending end flanges 51, 51 which embrace the wear blocks to assist the rivets in preventing slippage, and preferably the member 44 is formed with radial transverse grooves 58, .58 in its outer, periphery, between the wear shoes, to avoid excessive resistance of the moving-strut or toggle action by circumferential tension in the member 44.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 'l, the wear' shoes are omitted, the rubber face of the cushioning member, being adapted to contactthe mating clutch member, Il and preferably formed with longitudinal grooves 59, 59 defined by ribs 60, 60 for strong grippingengagement and with transverse grooves 6|, 3| to make the radially outer zone of the cushioning member the more easily distensible.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 the cushion member, 44', is provided with friction' blocks such as the block 62 having oppositely ment of objects and further modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I, claim: l. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, two axially opposed, generally conical deformable members mounted between the first said members and constrained to rotate with one of them and having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber, and means mounted for sliding axial movement on one of the first said.

members for forcing peripheries of said conical members in an axial direction toward each other and thereby changing their cone angles to effect torque-transmitting connection between the first said members.

2. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, two axially opposed, generally conical deformable members mounted between the first said members and constrained to rotate with one of them and having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber, and means mounted for sliding axial movement upon one of the first said members for forcing peripheries of said conical members in an axial direction toward slip-splined upon the driven shaft, 4&1, and, each other and thereby changing their cone angles axial movement on one of the first said members for forcing a periphery of one of the conical mem- I ,bers in an axial direction, and friction blocks mounted upon corresponding peripheries of said conical members.

4. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, two axially opposed, generally conical deformable members mounted between the first said members and constrained to rotate with one of them, said conical members having juxtaposed periph eries, means additional'to them for connecting said peripheries, and friction blocks mounted on said connecting means.

5. The'combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, two opposed, generally conical elements mounted between the members and constrained to rotate with one of them and havingsubstantially. the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber, said conical elements being non-integral with-each other, and means connecting juxtaposed peripheries of them to each other, the saidconnecting means comprising friction members and pinswhich extend through the said juxtaposedperipheries and anchor the friction members thereto.

6. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, a generally conical body of material having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber mounted between them and constrained to rotate with one of them, and means mounted for axial sliding movement on one of said members for applying force to said body in an axial direction at one of its peripheries, in conjunction with means for resisting axial movement of its other periphery, and thus eifect torque-sustaining connection between said members.

'l. The combination'of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, a generally conical, torque-sustaining body of material having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber mounted between them and constrained to rotate with one of them,

ly by reason of the squeezing, to extend itself radially by deformation, for eflecting torque-sustaining connection between said members, said squeezing means being operable while the said body is rotating.

9. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, a torque-sustaining body of material having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber mounted between them, and means mounted for axial sliding movement on one of said members, in conjunction with means for resisting movement of translation of said body, for squeezing said body in an axial direction, and thus compelling it, solely by reason of the squeezing, to extend itself radially by defamation for effecting torque-sustaining connection between said members, said squeezing means being operable while the said body is rotating.

10. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, a body of material having substantially the resilient deformability of vulcanized soft rubber mounted between them, a circumferential series of wear members mounted on said body, and means mounted for axial sliding movement on oneof said members, in conjunction with means for resisting movement of translation of said body, for squeezing said body in an axial direction, and

thus compelling it, solely by reason of the squ ing, to extend itself radially by deformation, for effecting torque-sustaining connection between said members, said squeezing means being operable while the said body is rotatlng.

11. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, and, mounted between them, two generally conical, axially opposed, deformable structures constrained to r tate with one of said members, and means mounted for. sliding movement on one of said members for forcing a part of one of the structures axially toward a part of the other structure and thus changing their cone angles for effecting torque-sustaining connection beto increase its cone angle tween said members.

12. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, and, mounted between them, two generally conical, axially opposed, torque-sustaining, deformable structures constrained to rotate with one of said members, and means mounted for sliding movement on one of said members for forcing part of one of the structures axially toward apart of the and means mounted for axial sliding movement on one of'said members for applying force to said body in an axial direction at one of its peripheries, in conjunction with means for resisting axial movement of its other periphery, to increase its cone angle and thus ei'fect torque-sustaining connection between said members.

other structure and thus changing their cone angles for eil'ecting torque-sustaining. connection between said members.

13. The combination of two relatively rotatable and at least approximately coaxial members, and, mounted between them, two generally conical, axially opposed, deformable structures constrained to rotate with one of said members, and

means mounted forsliding movement on one of said members for forcing a part of one of the structures axially toward a part of the other structure and thus ch nging their cone-angles for effecting torque-sustaining connection between said members, the force-applying means comprising a pair of squeezing members both axially slidable on one of the first mentioned members and a piston and cylinder axially slidablc with, and adapted to actuate, the squeezing members.

arrows L. miwrcx. 

